Terri Schiavo Leaves Hospital, Tests Negative for Any Injections

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 31, 2004

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) -- After being taken to the hospital for unknown puncture wounds on her arms, possibly caused by a hypodermic needle, Terri Schiavo is out of the hospital and back home at the assisted living facility where she lives.

Toxicology tests taken at the hospital came back negative, indicating nothing was injected into Terri's system.

Local police say nothing has indicated to them that any foul play was involved and there is no evidence anyone attempted to harm Terri.

However, authorities were continuing their investigation on Tuesday and they aren't sure what caused five puncture marks on her arms -- four on one and one on the other.

"Right now, it is a noncriminal inquiry," police spokesman Wayne Shelor told the St. Petersburg Times newspaper. "It is gathering information to see if it should be a criminal inquiry."

Pamela Hennessy, a representative of Terri's family, told LIfeNews.com that Terri's personal doctor has said he's "not 100 percent sure" if the marks on Terri's arms were caused by a needle.

But George Felos, the assisted suicide advocate who is the attorney for Terri's estranged husband Michael is certain Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler are responsible.

Felos accuses them of trying to inject her with something during a 45-minute visit prior to staff at the assisted living facility finding the marks on Terri's arms.

"The evidence we have is that somebody stuck a needle in Terri Schiavo numerous times but for what purpose we don't know," Felos said. "What appeared to be a purple needle cap was found in [Terri's] gown, confirming the belief that the puncture wounds were caused by a hypodermic needle."

George Tragos, an attorney representing Terri's parents Bob and Mary Schindler, said the whole ordeal was an attempt to keep the Schindlers from receiving information on Terri's medical condition.

"That's exactly what this is aimed at -- trying to prevent them from getting the records," Tragos told the St. Petersburg newspaper. "It is a desperate attempt to gain publicity and to smear her parents, who are trying to save her life."

Tragos said when the Schindlers visited Terri -- four hours before police were called -- Terri was in street clothes, not a hospital gown.

Terri's family, on Monday, lost a legal battle to have Michael found in contempt of court by violating a 1996 court order requiring him to provide the Schindlers with updates on Terri's medical condition.

As a result of the marks on Terri's arms, Michale has prohibited anyone -- including Terri's family -- from visiting her.

Governor Jeb Bush (R) has asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to keep him apprised of the investigation's findings.

"Mrs. Schiavo was found in a disheveled state with her feeding tube wrapped around her back and an allergy band pulled up very tight on her arm like a tourniquet," Felos said Tuesday about what happened. "On one arm were four fresh puncture wounds with another fresh puncture wound on her other arm. Also found were fresh scratch wounds, over the puncture wounds as if an attempt were made to conceal the puncture wounds."

"It appears that someone was either trying to inject Terri Schiavo with something or withdraw fluids from her," Felos added.

Bob Schindler, Terri's father, told Tampa's WTSP-TV that he did not inject anything into Terri and that his daughter was fine when the Schindlers finished their visit with her.

Related web sites:
Terri Schiavo's parents - http://www.terrisfight.org